How to make a track sound faster?

[MassAphekt]

I've got a 178 bpm drumstep track running but the energy sounds slower compared to a track im mixing it with in a dj mix thats also 178. What do you do to make your track sound more faster than it really does? Perhaps too much subbass may slow do your track in perception?

[test_recordings]

It's the amount of stuff happening, more sounds and things happening in complicated rhythms increases the perceived speed.

Listen to old jungle and it sounds almost as fast as current dnb despite being slower bpm-wise. That's why modern dnb bores me, it's just fast and repetitive.

Put more complex breaks in if you want people to think it's fast. 64ths and stuff

[wub]

It's the amount of stuff happening, more sounds and things happening in complicated rhythms increases the perceived speed.

Listen to old jungle and it sounds almost as fast as current dnb despite being slower bpm-wise. That's why modern dnb bores me, it's just fast and repetitive.

Put more complex breaks in if you want people to think it's fast. 64ths and stuff

What a concise post, couldn't have said it better myself



Agree with the bit re; breaks. A fast and dirty way of getting your tempo up would be to slap in a high passed Amen break with a bit of chopping/beat repeat sections on it, quite low in the mix so it gives background vibes without being a driving part of the tune.

[Bass_Jacka]

As with the amen break, I find that hats and percussion have a lot to do with the perceived tempo of a track. Try making a faster paced hat/percussion pattern to sit on top or behind your main drum pattern - this can give the impression of a faster track.

[wub]

Not so much the hits as what's taking place in the space between the hits.

[test_recordings]

There's actually psychological research to back my point up as well. I was going to do some for my dissertation but couldn't find enough research for background at the time then an undergrad at Imperial College or something did some for theirs the same year and got it published... gutted

[ArkIve]

Nudge hi end hits/snares/claps/etc. ever so slightly before the beat. A little nudge goes a long way

[Sure_Fire]

It can also come down to sound design and arrangement, for example Kill the Noise part 2 is a drumstep track with very minimal cymbal work going on in the drop yet it feels pretty fast paced due to the arrangement of the basses.

[webstarr]

ghost hits help

[syrup]

put a donk on it

[Banesy]

Not so much the hits as what's taking place in the space between the hits.

I think that is the key. I have noticed that when you compress more and more and really push a mix, it tends to sound faster than the uncompressed version. I think it is a phenomenon where compression brings up more audio in the "space" and makes everything sound like it runs together and hence, sounds faster. Meyah...just my observation there.

Edit: Oh shit...whats up homefry!! I had already gotten used to your new name and didn't realize who that was!

[AxeD]

put a donk on it

#base